Editing River Ridge, Louisiana

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = River Ridge, Louisiana
| native_name              = 
| other_name               = 
| settlement_type          = [[Census-designated place]]
<!-- images, nickname, motto -->
| image_skyline            = RiverRidgeWelcome.jpg
| image_caption            = Welcome to River Ridge sign on [[Jefferson Highway]]
| image_flag               = 
| image_shield             = 
| motto                    = 
| nickname                 = 
| etymology                = 
<!-- location -->
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = United States
| subdivision_type1        = State
| subdivision_name1        = Louisiana
| subdivision_type2        = Parish
| subdivision_name2        = [[Jefferson Parish, Louisiana|Jefferson]]
| subdivision_type3        = 
| subdivision_name3        = 
<!-- maps and coordinates -->
| image_map                = 
| map_caption              = 
| pushpin_map              = Louisiana
| pushpin_relief           = 
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location of River Ridge in Louisiana
| coordinates              = {{coord|29|57|43|N|90|13|04|W|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes    = 
<!-- established -->
| established_title        = 
| established_date         = 
<!-- area -->
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_22.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=March 20, 2022}}</ref>
| dunam_link               = 
| area_total_km2           = 9.19
| area_total_sq_mi         = 3.55
| area_land_sq_mi          = 2.80
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.75
<!-- elevation -->
| elevation_footnotes      = 
| elevation_m              = 
| elevation_ft             = 
<!-- population -->
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_total         = 13591
| population_density_km2   = 1876.97
| population_density_sq_mi = 4860.87
| population_demonym       = <!-- time zone(s) -->
| timezone1                = [[North American Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset1              = -6
| timezone1_DST            = [[North American Central Time Zone|CDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST          = -5
| timezone2                = 
| utc_offset2              = 
| timezone2_DST            = 
| utc_offset2_DST          = <!-- postal codes, area code -->
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code              = 70123
| area_code_type           = 
| area_code                = [[Area code 504|504]]
| geocode                  = 
| iso_code                 = 
| blank_name               = [[GNIS]] feature ID
| blank_info               = 546872
<!-- website, footnotes -->
| website                  = 
| footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|pop_est_footnotes        = 
|population_est           = 
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_land_km2            = 7.24
|area_water_km2           = 1.94
}}

'''River Ridge''' is an [[unincorporated community]] and [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in [[Jefferson Parish, Louisiana|Jefferson Parish]], [[Louisiana]], United States. It is a suburb of [[New Orleans]]. The population was 13,591 in 2020.<ref name=":0" />

== History ==
The land that is now River Ridge was developed by French colonists and their descendants in the late 18th and early 19th centuries for large sugar plantations; these lined the [[Mississippi River]] in traditional French [[ribbon farm|long-lot]] fashion. The plantations had relatively narrow waterfronts, in order to provide water access, and extended deeply back from the river. These plantations were developed by French colonists and their descendants; they depended on the labor of African [[Slavery in the United States|slaves]]. Major landowners included members of the Trudeau and Sauvé families. (Pierre Sauvé (1805–1867) had a major plantation here known as Providence.)

The alignments of the major streets in the area are vestiges of this era. Sauve Road continues to be a main thoroughfare in River Ridge (the street name and sign omitting the accent mark).

In 1849, a major flooding event known as [[Sauvé's Crevasse]] occurred. The crude river levee at the Sauvé Providence plantation failed under pressure of high water on the Mississippi. The massive flood inundated much of the land to the east, including parts of New Orleans. This crevasse occurred where a former meander of the Mississippi River once branched to form the Metairie and Gentilly Ridges.

In the early 20th century, an interurban transit line was constructed through this area. It served to connect the cities of New Orleans and [[Kenner, Louisiana|Kenner]]. It was aligned along the present course of Jefferson Highway, which was improved from earlier roads.

For many years the area remained rural farmland, until the post-[[World War II]] suburbanization era. Aided by funding under the [[G.I. Bill]], which enabled veterans to buy houses, large-scale suburban development began in the early 1950s. By 1965, virtually all of the area along the Mississippi River between [[Harahan, Louisiana|Harahan]] and Kenner was developed. This area at the time was known as "Little Farms", a name which well described its pre-urban history; this was also the place name officially recognized by the Post Office. (To this day Little Farms Avenue remains a major River Ridge thoroughfare.) Other subdivision names such as "East Bank" and "Rural Acres" were used as place names for the area at the time.

To eliminate confusion and create some sense of community identity, the area between Kenner, Harahan, Metairie, and the Mississippi River was officially renamed "River Ridge" in 1974.

In 2019, a baseball team from River Ridge won the [[2019 Little League World Series|Little League World Series]], becoming the first team from Louisiana to do so. They also became the first team since 2001 to lose their opening game, but win the championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/louisiana-wins-little-league-world-series |title=Louisiana beats Curacao for Little League crown|author= Randhawa, Manny|date=August 25, 2019|publisher=MLB.com}}</ref>

==Geography==
River Ridge is located along a {{convert|3|mi|km|adj=on|0}} stretch of [[Jefferson Highway]] ([[Louisiana Highway 48]]). Its boundaries include [[Harahan, Louisiana|Harahan]] to the east, [[Kenner, Louisiana|Kenner]] to the northwest, [[Metairie, Louisiana|Metairie]] to the north, and the [[Mississippi River]] to the southwest. Across the Mississippi is the unincorporated community of [[Waggaman, Louisiana|Waggaman]].

River Ridge is located at {{Coord|29.958265|N|90.221894|W|type:city}}. According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|9.19|sqkm|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|7.24|sqkm|order=flip}} are land and {{convert|1.95|sqkm|order=flip}}, or 21.18%, are water.<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web|title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): River Ridge CDP, Louisiana|url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US2265150|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213111223/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US2265150|archive-date=February 13, 2020|access-date=July 20, 2018|work=American Factfinder|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1970= 15713
|1980= 17146
|1990= 14800
|2000= 14588
|2010= 13494
|2020= 13591
|footnote=[https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html U.S. Decennial Census] <ref>{{cite web
  |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=CENSUS OF POPULATION AND HOUSING (1790-2000)|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2010-07-17}}</ref><ref>Census area returned as '''Little Farms''' in 1970.</ref>
}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+River Ridge racial composition as of 2020<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=2020 Race and Population Totals|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US2265150&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=2021-12-28|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 9,965
| 73.32%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 1,604
| 11.8%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 22
| 0.16%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 161
| 1.18%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
| 2
| 0.01%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 466
| 3.43%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 1,371
| 10.09%
|}
At the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 14,588 people, 6,030 households, and 4,082 families residing in the CDP. The population density was {{convert|5,181.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 6,325 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2,246.6|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 86.76% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 10.99% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.23% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.78% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.45% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.76% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latinos]] of any race were 2.92% of the population. At the [[2020 United States census]],<ref name=":0" /> there were 13,591 people, 5,546 households, and 3,579 families residing in the CDP, reflecting a slight population decline from the 2000 U.S. census. Its racial and ethnic makeup by 2020 was 73.32% non-Hispanic white, 11.8% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 1.18% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 3.43% two or more races, and 10.09% Hispanic or Latino American, reflecting the diversification of the United States at the 2020 census.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Latinos account for over half of the country's population growth|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/latinos-account-half-countrys-population-growth-rcna1667|access-date=2022-01-05|website=NBC News|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-08-12|title=America is becoming more urban, more diverse and less white, 2020 Census reveals|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/america-is-becoming-more-urban-more-diverse-and-less-white-2020-census-reveals|access-date=2022-01-05|website=PBS NewsHour|language=en-us}}</ref>

== Culture ==
[[File:Little Farms Park, River Ridge, Louisiana April 2025 - 3.jpg|thumb|Little Farms Park]]
[[File:Jesse Owens Park & Playground, River Ridge, Louisiana, 5 April 2025 - 3.jpg|thumb|Jesse Owens Park]]

Public parks include Little Farms Park and Jesse Owens Park & Playground.


*Paradise Manor Community Club is the swimming and tennis club for River Ridge. 
*According to Census 2000, River Ridge had 30 houses valued at $1,000,000 or more.

== Education ==
[[Jefferson Parish Public Schools]] operates public schools.<ref>"[http://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st22_la/place/p2265150_river_ridge/DC10BLK_P2265150_001.pdf 2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: River Ridge CDP, LA]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20140518102118/http://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st22_la/place/p2265150_river_ridge/DC10BLK_P2265150_001.pdf Archive]). [[U.S. Census Bureau]]. Retrieved on May 18, 2014.</ref><!--Compare this map with other school zoning maps--> Students are zoned to Hazel Park/Hilda Knoff School (formerly an elementary school) for grades PreK-8.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://la50000440.schoolwires.net/cms/lib/LA50000440/Centricity/Domain/142/EB%20ELEM2324.pdf|title=Elementary School Districts 2023-24 East Bank of Jefferson Parish Louisiana|publisher=[[Jefferson Parish Public Schools]]|access-date=2024-03-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://la50000440.schoolwires.net/cms/lib/LA50000440/Centricity/Domain/142/EB%20MIDDLE2324.pdf|title=Middle School Districts 2023-24 East Bank of Jefferson Parish Louisiana|publisher=[[Jefferson Parish Public Schools]]|access-date=2024-03-02}}</ref> Students are zoned to [[Riverdale High School (Jefferson Parish, Louisiana)|Riverdale High School]] in Jefferson.<ref>"[http://jpschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/12-13-eb-high-dist.pdf High School Districts 2012-2013 East Bank of Jefferson Parish Louisiana] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130905125113/http://jpschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/12-13-eb-high-dist.pdf |date=2013-09-05 }}." ([https://web.archive.org/web/20130905125113/http://jpschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/12-13-eb-high-dist.pdf Archive]) [[Jefferson Parish Public School System]]. Retrieved on May 18, 2014.</ref>

Formerly Hazel Park took elementary grades,<ref>"[http://jpschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/12-13-eb-elem-dist.pdf Elementary School Districts 2012-2013 East Bank of Jefferson Parish Louisiana] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130905120648/http://jpschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/12-13-eb-elem-dist.pdf |date=2013-09-05 }}" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20130905120648/http://jpschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/12-13-eb-elem-dist.pdf Archive]). [[Jefferson Parish Public School System]]. Retrieved on May 18, 2014.</ref> while Riverdale Middle School in [[Jefferson, Louisiana|Jefferson]] (now a part of Jefferson PK-8) took middle school grades.<ref>"[http://jpschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/12-13-eb-middle-dist.pdf Middle School Districts 2012-2013 East Bank of Jefferson Parish Louisiana] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130905095215/http://jpschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/12-13-eb-middle-dist.pdf |date=2013-09-05 }}" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20130905095215/http://jpschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/12-13-eb-middle-dist.pdf Archive]) [[Jefferson Parish Public School System]]. Retrieved on May 18, 2014.</ref>

In regards to the advanced studies academies, students are zoned to Airline Park Academy.<ref>"[http://jpschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/advanced-study-academies_eastbank_academies-attendance_zones_map1.pdf East Bank Advanced Studies Attendance Zones] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130905130103/http://jpschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/advanced-study-academies_eastbank_academies-attendance_zones_map1.pdf |date=2013-09-05 }}" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20130905130103/http://jpschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/advanced-study-academies_eastbank_academies-attendance_zones_map1.pdf Archive]). [[Jefferson Parish Public School System]]. Retrieved on May 18, 2014.</ref>

St. Matthew Catholic School (of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans]]) is in River Ridge. Many of the Catholic high schools are close by such as [[Archbishop Rummel High School]] and [[Archbishop Chapelle]]. Non-Catholic schools located nearby include [[St. Martin's Episcopal School]], [[Kehoe-France Day School|Kehoe-France]], [[John Curtis Christian High School|John Curtis]], and [[Ridgewood Preparatory School]],

[[File:River Ridge Library, River Ridge Louisiana, 5 April 2025 - 11.jpg|thumb|River Ridge Library]]
[[Jefferson Parish Library]] operates the River Ridge Branch Library in River Ridge.<ref name="branch">"[http://www.jplibrary.net/branches/jplpage.riverridge1.html]." Jefferson Parish Library. Retrieved on September 29, 2010.</ref> The library held its grand opening ceremony on Friday, May 4, 2018.<ref name="branch"/>

==Athletics==
In August 2019, the Little League baseball team from River Ridge made history by being the first team from Louisiana to win the US Championship and World Series Final.<ref name="LLWS_Champs">{{cite web |title=Louisiana’s Eastbank Little League Shuts Out Curacao to Win 2019 Little League Baseball® World Series |url=https://www.littleleague.org/world-series/2019/llbws/news/southwest-defeats-caribbean-8-0-captures-little-league-baseball-world-series-title/ |website=LittleLeague.org |access-date=12 October 2019 |date=25 August 2019}}</ref>

==References==
{{Commons category}}
{{Reflist}}

{{Jefferson Parish, Louisiana}}
{{Louisiana}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in Louisiana]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in the New Orleans metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Louisiana populated places on the Mississippi River]]